Patent GB-1119159-A (GB)
Title: Spring guide manipulator
Inventor: MULLER WOLF F
IPC: A61B10/00
Filed: 1967-02-17
Abstract: 1,119,159. Manipulative tool for spring guides. UNITED STATES CATHETER & INSTRUMENT CORP. 17 Feb., 1967 [31 May, 1966], No. 7689/67. Heading A5R. [Also in Division F2] A manipulative tool for spring guides comprises a body portion A, a front chuck B for securely holding the proximal end coils of a spring guide, the front chuck being operably connected to the body portion and rotatable with respect thereto about its longitudinal axis, a back chuck C for securely holding the proximal end of a spring guide tensioning wire, the back chuck being operably associated with the front chuck and being rotatable therewith and axially movable with respect thereto, wheel D for rotating both chucks relative to the body portion, and a linkage assembly E for effecting axial movement of the back chuck C towards or away from the front chuck B. Body portion A includes flange 5 connected to mounting block 6 by spacer rod 7. Block 6 has a vertical rib 8, a pair of horizontal slideways 9, 9, and relatively large and small bores 10 and 11. A longitudinally reciprocable slide 12 is mounted in block 6 and includes hollow stem 13. having secured thereto a pair of axles 15, 15 provided with rollers 16 engaging in slideways 9, 9, and disc end 14. A compression spring 18 is carried on stud 17 secured to rib 8, a bifurcated yoke 19 fitting over the stud with its arms pivotally attached to axles 15, thus  maintaining the spring under compression and constantly urging the slide 12 towards the right. The slide 12 is reciprocated by linkage assembly E. Lever plate 22 is provided with slot 25 for receiving pin 26 of a vertical locking bar 27 slidably mounted on spacer rod 7. A swivel 28 having a hollow stem 29 and disc end 30 has its stem 29 mounted in stem 13 of the slide 12, the end of stem 29 being provided with a groove 32 engageable with the end of a retaining screw (not shown) which extends through block 6, thus permitting rotational but not axial movement of the swivel. A rotatable torque tube 33 is affixed at one end by pin vise 34 and extends through locking bar 27, stud 17, rib 8, stem 29 and disc end 30 of swivel 28, one side of the torque tube being notched as at 36 for connection with the front chuck B. An internally-threaded tension post (37) having a length approximately equal to that of the projecting end of torque tube 33 and a slide rod 38 having a length substantially greater than that of the tension post (37) are secured to disc end 30 of the swivel (Fig. 4, not shown). The front chuck B comprises body portion 39 containing a cam-actuated clamp (not shown), a knurled clamp-actuating sleeve 40 and a spring-biassed pin 41 (Figs. 4 and 5, not shown) for locking the chuck on to the projecting end of torque tube 33. The chuck B has an axial duct passing through the internal clamp for receiving and retaining the proximal end of the spring guide coil while permitting the tensioning wire thereof to project therethrough for engagement by the back chuck C and for permitting the chuck to be attached to the end of the torque tube. When the front chuck B is attached to the torque tube, tension post (37) and slide rod 38 pass freely through longitudinal passages suitably provided therein so that relative axial motion can take place between chuck B and swivel 28. The back chuck C comprises a body portion 42 containing a cam-actuated detent (not shown), a knurled detent-actuating sleeve 43 and tension screw 44, an axial duct passing through the internal detent for receiving and retaining the proximal end of the spring guide tensioning wire. Chuck C is slidably mounted on rod 38 and is connected to swivel 28 by engagement between tension screw 44 and tension post (37). The tension screw 44 is freely rotatable with respect to the body portion of chuck C but is restrained against axial movement with respect thereto, so that the tension screw may be used to vary the spacing between the back chuck C and swivel 28, and thus vary the total tension to be applied to the tensioning wire of the spring guide. The torque tube 33 may be rotated relative to the tool body A by means of wheel D which is connected to pin vise 34. Since the front chuck B is attached to the torque tube, rotation of the latter is transmitted through the chuck B to the swivel 28 via tension post (37) and rod 38 and to the back chuck C. Thus, torque tube 33, chucks B and C, and the swivel 28 all rotate as a unit. Axial movement of slide 12 and swivel 28, resulting from manipulation of linkage assembly E, brings about a corresponding axial movement of back chuck C and a relative movement of the rear chuck C with respect to front chuck B, thus causing tension to be applied and released to and from the tensioning wire of the attached spring guide. A telescoping tube 46 carried within torque tube 33 projects beyond the end of pin vise 34 for connection to a two-valve manifold 48 for the injection of liquids. The latter comprises a body portion 49 provided with a female Luer fitting 50 at each end. Each of the fittings 50, see Figs. 9 and 10, connects with a horizontal duct 51 communicating with a vertical tapered bore 52 containing a rotatable plug valve 53 provided with a duct 55 aligned with horizontal duct 51 and an inner horizontal duct 56 communicating with bore 57 in axial alignment with telescoping tube 46. A hollow rotary spindle 58 fits within bore 57 and is provided with a catheter-connecting fitting 59 at its forward end and an externallythreaded boss 64 and male half 65 of a clutch at its rear end. The female half 66 of the clutch is affixed to the end of telescoping 46 by locking cap 67. The spindle 58 (Fig. 11, not shown) is provided intermediate its ends with a pair of flanges (60, 60) having an outer face spacing equal to the length of bore 57. another pair of flanges (61, 61) having conical interfaces (62) symmetrically positioned between flanges (60, 60) so that the zones defined by their conical interfaces are aligned with ducts 56. The conical face of the forward flange (61) is provided with four radial ducts (63) communicating with the axial bore of the spindle. The manifold body 49 may be provided with a vertical duct 73 communicating with bore 57 for connection with an external injection fitting 74 provided with a self-sealing rubber disc for use when supplemental or flushing solutions are to be introduced by a hypodermic needle: An externallythreaded collar 75 is affixed to telescoping tube 46 and carries a sleeve 76 which serves as an adjuster for setting the initial or retraded position of a catheter connected to fitting 59 with respect to the spring guide. A preferred form of spring guide (Figs. 7 and 8, not shown) is formed from continuous wire coil 77 having wedge-shaped spaces (78) between the helices on one side of the coil at the distal end. The latter is closed by a cap (79) connected to one end of a tensioning wire 80, the other end of which is provided with a pellet 81 and projects beyond the proximal end of the spring guide. The latter is stiffened by a tube 82 in tight contact therewith, the tube having a groove 83 engageable by the clamp of the front chuck B. The spring guide is connected to the manipulative tool by passing it through telescoping tube 46 so that pellet 81 is retained within the back chuck C and the proximal end of coil 77 and stiffening tube 82 is clamped within chuck B. As the back chuck C is moved axially away from the front chuck B by operating linkage E, tension is applied to wire 80 which is axially displaced to flex the distal end of the spring guide. The total length of axial displacement may be adjusted by varying the position of tension screw 44 in tension post (37). During connection of the spring guide to the manipulative tool, its unflexed distal end is passed through spindle 58 of manifold 48 which is then drawn along the spring guide until the halves 65 and 66 of the clutch are engaged and the cap 67 is secured to the boss 64. The latter carries a "no-bleed" fitment (nor shown) through which the spring guide passes and which serves to prevent back-flow of liquid from the manifold. A suitable catheter may then be drawn over the spring guide from its distal end and connected to fitting 59. In the event that the manifold 48 is not to be used, both it and the telescoping tube 46 are removed and replaced by a similar telescoping tube having a catheter-connecting fitting identical with fitting 59 in place of coupling half 66.